Guru Arjan Dev

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Image:Dictation of the Guru Granth Saheb.jpg

Guru Arjan, right, dictating the Adi Granth to Bhai Gurdas.

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Guru Arjan Dev or Guru Arjun Dev (Template:LangWithName) (born in Amritsar, Punjab, India on 15 April, 1563 – 30 May, 1606 Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan) was the fifth of the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 1 September 1581 following in the footsteps of Guru Ram Das. He was born at Goindval, and was the youngest of the sons of Ram Das. Before his matyrdom, he nominated his son Har Gobind as the next Guru of the Sikhs.

Guru Arjan was head of Sikhism for a quarter of a century and accomplished a lot during his regime.He completed the construction of Amritsar and founded other cities such as Taran Taran and Kartarpur.He constructed a Baoli at Lahore.The most important work of Arjan Dev was the compilation of Adi Granth.He collected all the work of the first four Gurus and dictated it in the form of verses in 1604.It is, perhaps, the only kind of writing of a scriptural nature which has preserved without emblishments or misconstruction of the original writings of religious literatures.^[1]

Guru Arjan organised the Masand system.The Sikhs were asked to pay one-tenth of their income to the Guru in future.He appointed representatives to collect the money.He encouraged his followers to trade in horses.

1 Life
2 Compositions
3 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan
4 The Eleven Gurus of Sikhism
5 External links
6 References

[edit] Life

Guru Arjan clearly understood the wide import of the teachings of Nanak and perceived how applicable they were to every state of life and to every condition of society.^[2]He made Amritsar the proper seat of his followers and a centre which would attract the worldly longings for a material bond of union.The city became populous and a great place of pilgrimage of the Sikh people.

Composing the Adi Granth, he gave to his followers their fixed rule of religious and moral conduct.His starting of collection of offerings by way of Masand system, in a systematic way,accustomed them to a regular goverenment.He traded in horses, though not extensively, and encouraged his followers to follow his example, to be as zealous in trade as they were in their faith.^[3]

Guru Arjan became famous among his pious devotees and his biographers dwell on the number of Saints and Holy men who were edified by his instructions.^[4]He was equally headed by men in high positions.During his time, the principles of Nanak took a firm hold on the minds of his followers.

[edit] Compositions

Beside compiling the Adi Granth, Guru Arjan also composed a lot of hymns and included them in it.He appointed Bhai Buddha, who was a companion of Guru Nanak, as the chief priest of the Golden Temple.He placed the Adi Granth on the seat reserved for him and himself sat among his disciples. Sukhmani,one the most recited banis(sacred hymn) by Sikhs, was composed by Guru Arjan. Hymn from the Sukhmani Sahib (Guru Granth Sahib page 262):

Meditate, meditate, meditate peace is obtained, Worry and anguish is expelled from the body.
Remembering God, you’re not reborn. Remembering God, the fear of death is dispelled.
Remembering God, death is eliminated. Remembering God, your enemies are repelled.
Remembering God, no obstacles are met. Remembering God, night and day you’re fully awake.
Remembering God, fear cannot touch you. Remembering God, you don’t suffer with sorrow.
Remembrance of God, in the Company of Saints. All treasures, O Nanak, are by Lord’s Blessing. ||2||

[edit] Martyrdom of Guru Arjan

Relations between Akbar and Guru Arjan were cordial but things changed after the accession of Jahangir. Ultimately the Guru was tortured to death in 1605.^[5]His end seems to have been hastened by the rigors in confinement; and Sikhs piously believe that ,having obtained leave to bathe in the river Ravi, he vanished, to the fear and wonder of those guarding him.^[6]

Many reasons have been given for this tragedy.It is stated that Jahangir was annoyed because Guru Arjan gave his blessings to his rebel son, Prince Khasrau.^[7]Jahangir also did not like the growing popularity of Sikhism and took strong objection to conversion of Muslims to Sikhism.^[8]

It is also stated in some sources that the Diwan (revenue collector) of Lahore wanted to marry his daughter to the son of Guru Arjan, but the latter refused. The Diwan could not put up with his insult and poisoned the ears of the Goverenment.Consequently Jahangir imposed a fine of Rupee two Lac on Guru Arjan and ordered him to remove certain passages from the Adi Granth, which were objectionable to Muslims.On the Guru's refusal to do so, he was tortured to death.^[9]

This is what Emperor Jahangir wrote in his diary called the "Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri", which translates to "Memoirs of Jahangir"

Image:Arjan11.jpg

Guru Arjan Dev subjected to torture by the Mughals.

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The manner in which Guru Arjan was put to death "convinced the sikhs that they must arm themselves and fight, if they wanted to live".^[10] It proved a turning point in the history of Sikhism.They were not to be merely devotees but were also to become warriors.

[edit] The Eleven Gurus of Sikhism

Template:List of Sikh Gurus

[edit] External links

Audio:

[edit] References

^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. "ten", Muslim Rule In India, fifth, 232.
^ Cunnigham, J.D (1853). "Gooroo Arjoon", A History Of The Sikhs. John Murray.
^ Cunnigham, J.D (1853). "Gooroo Arjoon", A History Of The Sikhs. John Murray.
^ Cunnigham, J.D (1853). "Gooroo Arjoon", A History of The Sikhs. John Murray.
^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India. S.Chand &co..
^ Cunnigham, Joseph Davey (1853). A History Of The Sikhs.. London: John Murray, 51.
^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India, fifth, S Chand & co., 232.
^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India, fifth, S. Chand & co., 232.
^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar (1970). "ten", Muslim Rule In India, fifth, New Delhi: S.Chand & Co., 232.
^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India, Teja singh, Fifth, 233.

1. "Tuzuk-i-Jahagiri or Memoirs of Jahagir" Translated by Alexander Rogers. Edited by Henry Beveridge Published by Low Price Publication www.lppindia.com ISBN 978-81-7536-148-5
2. History of the Panjab, Syad Muhammad Latif, Published by: Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana, Punjab, India ISBN 978-81-7096-245-8

Preceded by: Guru Ram Das (24 September 1534 - 1 September 1581)	Guru Arjan Dev	Followed by: Guru Har Gobind (19 June 1595 - 03 March 1644)

The Eleven Gurus of Sikhism
Guru Nanak Dev \| Guru Angad Dev \| Guru Amar Das \| Guru Ram Das \| Guru Arjun Dev \| Guru Har Gobind \| Guru Har Rai \| Guru Har Krishan \| Guru Teg Bahadur \| Guru Gobind Singh \| (Followed by Guru Granth Sahib, Perpetual Guru of the Sikhs)